Believe

Message Notes:

The theme for today’s message from 1 John 5:1-12 is “Faith.”

•In both 1 John, and in the Bible as a whole, faith has different levels, shades of meaning, and/or usages.

“Faith” was an important word to the apostle John:

•He used it 25 times in 1 John

•He used it 116 times in all of his letters (Gospel of John, 1, 2, and 3 John)

•Compare that with the usages of the word in the rest of the New Testament — 243 times total

•Meaning John talks about “faith” in four letters — almost as much as the remaining 23 books of the NT.

•“Faith” appears over 700 times in the whole Bible.

In the Bible: “faith” is often used to describe “Saving Faith.”

•Ephesians 2:8-9

•Romans 5:1

•John 11:25

But sometimes “faith” is used to describe something deeper than “saving faith.” Think of terms like “Achieving Faith” or “Enduring Faith” or “Overcoming Faith.”

•Hebrews 11:1-35a — “Achieving Faith”

•Hebrews 11:35b-40 — “Enduring Faith”

•James 1:3 — “Tested Faith That Grows”

•This type of faith is of high quality due to responding well to testing.

In 1 John 5, we will see both “saving faith,” as well as “overcoming faith.”

•1 John 5:1 — saving faith

•1 John 5:4 — overcoming faith

•1 John 5:11-12 — saving faith

The question for the day: What is the nature / quality of your faith?

Discussion Questions:

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS (What does the text say?)

1.What are the marks of someone “born of God” according to verses 1–3?

• What stands out about the connection between belief, love, and obedience?

2.What does it mean to “overcome the world” in verse 4?

• How does John say this victory is achieved?

3.Verses 6–9 talk about three witnesses: the water, the blood, and the Spirit. What do you think each of these refers to?

• Why is testimony so important to John’s argument?

4.In verses 11–12, what is “the testimony” that God gives?

• What contrast is made between those who have the Son and those who don’t?

INTERPRETATION QUESTIONS (What does it mean?)

5.How does John define real faith in this passage?

• Is it just belief in Jesus’ existence, or something more?

6.Why do you think John connects faith so closely with love and obedience?

• What might this say about how faith should express itself?

7.John says God has “testified” about His Son. Why is God’s testimony more trustworthy than human opinion? (v. 9)

• What kind of testimony have you personally experienced?

8.What do verses 11–12 teach about eternal life?

• How does John define eternal life—not just as a place, but as a person?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS (How does it change me?)

9.In what ways are you tempted to separate faith from obedience or love?

• How can you integrate all three more fully in your walk with God?

10.Are there areas of your life where you feel defeated by “the world”?

• How does the truth of verse 4 (that our faith overcomes the world) speak into those struggles?

11.What does it mean to you to “have the Son”?

• How do you experience the reality of that relationship in your daily life?

12.Is there an area where God is asking you to take a step of trust—even if you can’t see the outcome?

• What would it look like to say, “I can’t see You… but I’ll jump anyway”?